Moscow has issued more threats to the West, with President Vladimir Putin warning what he called "unfriendly countries" that they must pay for gas imports in Russian rubles, or supplies would be cut altogether.
It comes as yet another attempt to evacuate thousands of civilians from Mariupol has been stalled again, with Ukraine claiming Russian forces prevented a humanitarian convoy from getting through.
For 36 days the war in Ukraine has been brutal, bloody and unabating, but it has not gone as Russia intended - no quick victory, a staunch Ukrainian resistance, crippling western sanctions.
So President Putin has brought a new weapon to the fight - threatening to cut off the supply of gas to Europe in less than 24 hours.
Europe needs Russia's gas - it accounts for more than a third of supplies - and Russia needs Europe to buy it.
Last year it was worth $255 billion, but the Russian leader now wants that paid in rubles - a move to help prop up the struggling currency. Otherwise he says the tap will be turned off tonight.
It's a lose-lose on both sides. Russia would lose its status as a consistent supplier to the European market and from a European point of view, there would be much higher prices and economic pain for all citizens in the UK and Europe.
Germany is vowing not to be blackmailed - and is instead preparing for rationing.
With the US and other nations having already banned the import of Russian oil, its price is soaring. So President Biden and his allies tonight released emergency stockpiles.
"Together our combined efforts will supply well over a million barrels a day, nations coming together to deny Putin the ability to weaponise his energy resources against American families and families and democracies around the world," Biden said.
No question though which families are suffering the most from this war. The city of Mariupol appears uninhabitable - but 170,000 people are still trying to survive there.
The mayor claims almost 5000 are now dead.
A convoy of 45 buses was on its way to the city for a rescue operation tonight - but it’s been delayed by the continuing security concerns.
Put on hold until tomorrow, by which time Europe could also be running out of gas and having to pay a lot more for what is still on offer.
